The Excise Department has issued a final warning to nine liquor manufacturers to pay their tax arrears.
Excise chief M.J. Gunasiri said Rs. 7,200 million are overdue from these distilleries.
Two of the companies have already been taken to court, while Finland Distilleries completed its outstanding payment by last December.
A fundamental rights petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against the 10 tax defaulting distilleries.
They are W. M. Mendis & Co. Limited, Wayamba Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd, Globe Blenders and Bottlers Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, McCallum Brewing Co (Pvt) Ltd, Kalutara Co-op Distilleries Society Ltd, Finland Distilleries Corporation (Pvt) Ltd, Synergy Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd, Randenigala Distilleries Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Hingurana Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd, Royal Ceylon Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd.
